Background and objectives: It is commonly known that obesity not only increases arterial hypertension (HT) risk but also impacts on the response to antihypertensives. This study aimed to assess blood pressure (BP) parameters based on Ambulatory Blood Pressure Measurement (ABPM) in obese patients. Materials and Methods: The study group consisted of 128 patients with obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2), with an average age of 43.25 years (±12.42), including 55 males and 73 females. They were divided into 2 groups: 1-with BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 and <40 kg/m2, 2-with BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2. Each patient underwent 24-h blood pressure monitoring. The average 24-h, daytime and nighttime systolic and diastolic pressure, as well as 24-h mean heart rate and % of nocturnal dip, were assessed. Results: Mean BMI in group 1 was 34.73 kg/m2 (±2.96), and in group 2 it was 47.6 kg/m2 (±6.3). Group 1 was significantly older than group 2 (46.5 vs. 39 years old). The analysis of ABPM revealed significantly higher BP values in all measurements in group 2 (i.e., systolic blood pressure (SBP) 24 h median = 132 mmHg; diastolic blood pressure (DBP) 24 h median = 84 mmHg). The nocturnal dip was greater in group 1 (8.95%). Mean 24-h heart rate was also higher in group 2 (median = 76 beats/min) than group 1 (median = 67.5 beats/min). More than half of patients in group 2 had been previously treated for HT, and based on ABPM, new HT was diagnosed in 6 patients from group 1 and 14 patients from group 2. Three groups of patients were identified based on nighttime dip: dipper, non-dipper, and reverse-dipper. No patient of the extreme dipper type was found. Group 2 comprised of significantly more patients of the reverse-dipper type. Conclusions: Patients with extreme morbid obesity frequently exhibit HT of the reverse-dipping pattern. This type is often linked with a higher risk of more advanced cardiovascular illness.

The aim of this study was to analyse the morphological lesion pattern of the heart of broiler chickens (Cobb 500, Hubbard F15 and Ross 308) during fattening with no clinical signs of disease and to determine the most susceptible period for the occurrence of morphological lesions. The most frequently diagnosed lesions in each genetic line were degeneration of the fibres with vacuolation, congestion of cardiac muscle, oedema and vacuolisation of the Purkinje cells. The highest numbers of morphological lesions were observed on d 38, 31 and 10 of life. The lesions were most numerous in the septum, followed by the left and right ventricles. Ischaemic cardiomyocytes were also most numerous on d 38 of life and in the left ventricle. Overload of cardiac muscle, prolonged hypoxia and increasing body weight on d 38 are the likely reasons for the largest number of lesions and ischaemic fibres, which may lead to heart failure.

No abstract

No abstract

Introduction A disease of a loved one constitutes a serious disturbance in the functioning of many families. Meeting expectations of patients’ families is seen as an element conditioning the level of satisfaction from the care provided in hospital. Aim The aim of this study was to investigate the expectations of families of people hospitalized in the Intensive Care Units (ICUs). Material and methods The study was carried out in ICUs in the Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship. The study was performed by diagnostic survey using the questionnaire technique. In total 104 people were surveyed. Results and Discussion The highest ranking expectation of the patient’s loved ones was that of trust towards the staff diagnosing and treating the patient as well as the staff nursing them. Then there came: the feeling of ensuring the best care possible for the patient, obtaining information about the patient’s health, education on the way the unit functions, staying at the patient’s bedisde in the ICU. Lower in the ranking were the importance of having access to the family zone amenities, the opportunity of sharing their problems with others or receiving psychological and pastoral care. Conclusions The most important need of visitors to the ICU is to obtain assurance that the patient is provided the best care possible. As the second most important need, the respondents mentioned the need to be close to the patient and easiness of obtaining information about their health condition provided by the doctor.